The City Council voted in favor of banning charities from collecting money on city streets.

The proposal must be voted on one more time before it becomes official, but some charities are already bracing for the hit they say they will take.

The intersection of State and Elm streets is a popular site for organizations to collect donations. It's a busy intersection making it a great place to try to grab some cash, but some say that type of fundraising is too dangerous.

Hitting up drivers for the spare change in their cup holders is an easy way to raise money and it’s profitable.

“In one day that we would be out it would be a couple of thousand dollars in just the one location,” said Salvation Army Maj. Stephen Kiger.

Kiger said the Salvation Army has come to rely on that type of donations and the city's proposal to end them during a time of limited funding could not come at a worse time.

“The needs are substantial and we have to be able to raise the funds to be able to address them,” Kiger said.

Monday night the city took its first step to halt drive-by donations voting 5 to 3 in favor of banning collections on the city's roads, saying public safety should come first.

“A lot of people nowadays are not paying attention. They're on their smartphones, texting, or looking at their emails,” said New Albany Fire Department Chief Matt Juliot.

Last year, New Albany firefighters stopped their roadside collections because of safety concerns.

“We've had employees in the past been struck by mirrors on cars or trucks as they pass by.” Juliot said.

Kiger said there's always that risk, but added that in his 12 years at the Salvation Army there haven't been any issues.

“I think with proper preparation and with the intersections properly marked and the people properly dressed it really minimizes that,” Kiger said.

“I personally, as a fire chief, feel that it's a safety issue. Having my employees standing in traffic, even though you might have a sign or cone, but the truth of the facts are people are not paying attention,” Juliot said.

First-time offenders of the proposed ban could face $100 fines. The City Council is expected to make a third and final vote on the issue Feb. 21.

Last year, 18 groups applied to conduct roadside collections.

The Salvation Army said it plans to send a letter to the City Council before the next vote asking them to reconsider or offer alternative ways to raise money.